Gauging apparatus



y 1936- c. B. EMERY ET AL 2,047,408

GAUGI NG APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1931 7 Myer; Mrs C 5. [may Patented July 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE oaueme APPARATUS Application'December 31, 1931, Serial No. 584,050 2 Claims. (01. 111-351) This invention relates to gauging apparatus,

and its principal object is to provide a simple and efllcient apparatus for gauging dimensions of articles and for indicating whether the gauged 5' dimensions are within one or another of a plurality of limits.

One embodiment of the invention contemplates the provision of a gauging apparatus including an indicating system, wherein a pointer or switch controlling member movable in response to variations in dimensions of articles being gauged, controls a plurality of electrical contacts for selectively operating signaling means to indicate whether the gauged dimensions are within one or another of a series of limits. In a preferred form of the invention, the electrical contacts control the operation of a plurality of relays for selectively lighting a plurality of signaling lamps positioned where they will be readily and conveniently observed by an operator of the apparatus.

Otherfeatures and advantages of this invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a gauging apparatus, embodying the features of the invention, and

Fig. 2 is a schematic wiring diagram of the indicating system therefor.

Referring now to the drawing, numeral l0 designates a frame in the lower portion of which is provided an aperture for receiving a gauging element or plunger ll, movable vertically by a handlever l2 and limited in its vertical movement by a stop member l3. The lower end of the gauging plunger II is normally positioned a predetermined distance from an anvil or article supporting member l4, while the upper end has disposed in engagement therewith a movable element l5. The movable element I5 is connected by reeds or flat springs H to a stationary element I6 fixed to the frame In, whereby the movable element I5 is allowed to move with the gauging plunger II, which movement may be caused by the insertion of an article to be gauged between the gauging plunger and the anvil M. A pointer or switch controlling member 20 is connected at one end to the inner and upper portion of the movable element l5 and the stationary element 16 by means of flat springs 2| and 22, respectively.

Due to the construction just described a magnifled swinging movement is imparted to the upper endof the switch controlling member 26 by a movement of the gauging plunger H, the extent of movement of the member depending upon the extent of movement of the plunger.

A pair of spaced resilient contacts 25 and 26 are positioned on the left side of the switch controlling member 20 'and resilient contacts 21 and 5 28 are positioned on the right side thereof. The switch controlling member 20 is associated with resilient. switch members 30 and 3|, the switch member 30 being positioned betweenthe resilient contacts 25 and 26 and having an insulating pin 10 32 fixed to the upper end thereof and arranged to be engaged by the upper end of the switch controlling member 20 when moved to the left (Fig. 1), while the resilient switch member it is positioned between the resilient contacts 21 and 15 26 and provided with an insulating pin 33 at the upper end thereof arranged to be engaged by the upper end of the switchcontrolling member 20 when moved to the right.

Referring to Fig. 2, it will be observed that 20 the switch members 36 and 3| are connected to one lead 35 of a source of electrical energy (not shown) the other lead of which is indicated by the numeral 36. The contacts 25, 26, 21 and 26 are connected to the lead 36 through the wind- 25 ings of relays 31, 38, 39 and'40, respectively. These relays are arranged to selectively control the actuation of a plurality of signaling elements,

such as lamps 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49 positioned where the operator of the gauging apparatus may 30 readily observe them, as shown in Fig. 1. An armature 52 of relay 3! is connected'to the lead 36. A normally open contact 53 of relay 31 is connected through the lamp 45' to the lead 35, and a normally closed contact 55 of this 5 relay is connected by a conductor 58 to an armature 51 of relay 38. A normally closed con- .tact 56 of relay 38 is connected through the lamp 46 to the lead 35, and a normally open I contact 60 of this relay is connected by a con- 0 ductor 64 to an armature 63 of relay 39. A normally open contact 6| of relay 39 is connected through the lamp 4! to the lead 35, and a normally closed contact 62 of this relay is connected by a conductor 69 to an armature 68- of relay 46. 45 A normally closed contact 6'! of relay 46 is connected through the lamp 46 to the lead 35, and a normally open contact $2 of this relay is connected through the lamp 49 to the lead 35.

From the above described circuit arrange- 50 ment, it will be understood that the signaling lamps 45 to 49, inclusive, are selectively energized by the operation of the relays 3'! to 48, inclusive. The relays, in turn, are selectively energized by the engagement of the switch members 55 30 and 3| with their associated contacts 25, 26 and 21, 28, respectively, which engagement is controlled by the position of the switch controlling member 20. In the present embodiment of the invention the switch members 30 and 3| are tensioned to normally engage contacts 26 and 21, respectively, that is, when the switch controlling member 20 is not in pressing engagement with either of the switch members.

When no article is positioned between the anvil l4 and the gauging plunger H, the switch controlling member 20 is swung to the left to the position shown in the drawing due to the movement of the plunger H and element l5 to their lowermost positions caused by the force of gravity. With the member 20 in this position, the

switch members 30 and 3| are disengaged from contacts 26 and 28 and engaged with contacts 25 and 21, respectively. By referring to Fig. 2, it will be seen that this condition results in the energization of relays 31 and 39, while relays 38 and 40 are not energized, whereby contacts 53, 56, 6| and 61 of relays 31, 38, 39 and 40, respectively, are closed while the other contacts of these relays are opened. Thus, an electrical circuit is completed through the signaling lamp 45, as follows: from line 35 through lamp 45, contact 53 of relay 31 and armature 52 of same relay to line 36. However, the operating circuits of lamps 46, 41, 48 and 49 will not be completed due to the open relay contacts 55, 60, 62 and 12. Therefore, the lamp 45 is illuminated while the others are not.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: The gauging plunger II is manually lifted by means of the hand lever l2 to permit the insertion of an article to be gauged between the anvil I4 and the lower end of the gauging plunger, after which the hand lever is released, permitting the gauging plunger to move downwardly toward the article. If the dimension of the article beinggauged is below a predetermined low limit, as determined by the normal distance between the end of the gauging plunger and the upper surface of the anvil H, the plunger will move to its lowermost position before engaging the article and thus the switch controlling member 20 is swung to the left sufiiciently to cause the engagement of switch member 30 with contact 25, whereby the lamp 45 is illuminated, as

described above, to indicate to the operator thatthe dimension of the article being gauged below the predetermined limit.

If the dimension of an article being gauged is above the predetermined low limit but below a second predetermined limit, the position of the gauging plunger upon engaging the article will be such that the switch controlling member 26 will be swung to the left to a position wherein the switch member 30 will be moved sumciently to cause its disengagement from the contact 25, but insufliciently to cause its engagement with the contact 25. When this condition exists, the relay 39 remains energized, but the other relays 31, 38 and 40 are not energized, whereby relay contacts 55,- 56, 6| and 61 are closed while the other relay contacts are opened. Thus, an electrical circuit is completed through the lamp 46,

as follows: from line 35 through lamp 46, contact 56 of relay 38, armature 51 of same relay, conductor 56, contact 55 of relay 31, and armature 52 of same relay to line 36. This results in the illumination of lamp 45 to indicate to the operator that the dimension of the article being gauged is above the firstbut below the second predetermined limits.

If the dimension of an article being gauged is above the second predetermined limit but below a third predetermined limit, the switch controlling 5 member 20 will assume a position wherein the tensioned switch members 30 and 3| are permitted to engage the contacts 26 and 21, respectively. This results in the energization of relays 38 and 39, while relays 31 and 48 are not 10 energized, whereby relay contacts 55, 60, 6| and 61 are closed while the other relay contacts are opened. Thus, the electrical operating circuit of lamp 41 is completed as follows: from line 35, through lamp 41, contact 6| of relay 39, armature 1'5 63 of same relay, conductor 64, contact 60 of relay 38, armature 51 of same relay, conductor 58, contact 55 of relay 31, and armature 52 of same relay to line 36. Therefore, the lamp 41 is illuminated to indicate to the operator that the dimen- 2O sion of the article being gauged is above the second but below the third predetermined limits.

If the dimension of the article being gauged is above the third predetermined limit but below a fourth or high predetermined limit, the switch 2-5 controlling member 20 will be swung to the right to a position wherein the switch member 3| will be moved sufiiciently to cause its disengagement from the contact 21, but insuificiently to cause its engagement with the contact 28. This re- 5?) sults in the energization of relay 38 while relays 31, 39 and 40 are not energized, whereby relay contacts 55, 60, 62 and 61 are closed while the other relay contacts are opened. Thus, the electrical operating circuit of lamp 48 is completed .15 as follows: from line 35 through lamp 48, contact 61 of relay 40, armature 68 of same relay, conductor 69, contact 62 of relay 38, armature 63 of same relay, conductor 64, contact 60 of relay 38, armature 51 of same relay, conductor 53, 40 contact 55 of relay 31, and armature 52 of same relay to line 36. The lamp 48 is thereby illuminated to indicate to the operator that the dimension of the article being gauged is above the third but below the fourth predetermined limits. 4:) If the dimension of the article being gauged is above the fourth or high predetermined limit, the switch controlling member 20 will be swung to the right sumciently to cause the switch member II to engage the contact 28. This results in the so energization of relays 38 and 40 while relays 31 and 39 are not energized, whereby relay contacts 55, 60, 62 and 12 are closed while the other relay contacts are opened. Thus, the electrical circuit of lamp 49 is completed as follows: from line 35 55- relay, conductor 56, contact 55 of relay 31, and 60 armature 52 of same relay to line 36. The lamp 46 is thereby illuminated to indicate to the operator that the dimension of the article being gauged is above the fourth predetermined limit.

With the embodiment of the invention just de- 5 scribed, the articles being gauged will be graded or classified into nve grades. It may be desired to reject those in the first and fifth grades and to use only those in the second, third and fourth grades. 70

From the above description, it will be obvious that the present invention provides a simple and emcient apparatus for gauging dimensions of articlesand for simultaneously indicating whether the gauged dimensions are within one or another 75 limit or above a predetermined high limit. It is apparent, of course, that the limits may be varied by simply changing the normal distance between the anvil l4 and the gauging plunger II and by adjusting the contacts 25 to 28, inclusive, as by means of the adjusting screws shown in Fig. 1. For example, if it is desired to determine whether the dimensions of articles being gauged are below .2", between .2" and .2001", between .2001" and .2002", between .2002" and .2003",or above .2003" the apparatus is constructed and/or adjusted so that the signaling lamps 45, 46, 41, 48 and 49 are selectively illuminated, in the manner described above, when the dimension of an article being gauged is below .2", between .2" and .2001", between .2001" and .2002", between .2002 and .2003 and above .2003", respectively. It is obvious that each of the lamps may be of a suitable color distinguishingly difierent from the others so that the operator may more readily determine the measurement of the article being gauged.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiment thereof herein illustrated and described, except as defined by the appended claims. I

What is claimed is:

1. In a gauging apparatus, a movable element responsive to a dimension of an artcle being gauged, and means for indicating variations in the gauged dimension comprising four electrical relays each having a front contact and a back contact, a source of electrical current, an electrical indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contact of the first of said relays, a second indicating device connectible to said current source through the back contacts of the first and second of said relays, a third indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contacts of the second and third relays and the back contact of the first relay, a fourth indicating device connectible to said current source through the back contacts of the first, third and fourth relays and the front contact of the second relay, and a fifth indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contacts of the second and fourth relays and the back contacts of the first and third relays and a plurality of electrical contact switches selectively actuated by said movable element according to the dimension of the article being gauged for selectively connecting said relays to said electrical current source.

2. In a gauging apparatus, four fixed contacts arranged in spaced apart pairs and with the contacts of each pair in spaced relation, two movable contacts, one between the fixed contacts of each pair for engaging either of said fixed contacts and normally engaging one of said contacts, a movable element movable between saidmovable contacts responsive to a dimension of an article being gauged for selectively engaging said movable contacts with the associated fixed contacts, four relays, one for each fixed contact, a source of electrical current connectible to said relays separately through the engagement of the movable contacts with the corresponding fixed contacts, each of said relays having a front contact and a back contact, an electrical indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contact of the first of said relays, a second indicating device connectible to said current source through the back contacts of the first and second of said relays, a third indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contacts of the second and third relays, and the back contact of the first relay, a fourth indicating device connectible to said current source through the back contacts of the first, third and fourth relays and the front contact of the second relay, and a fifth indicating device connectible to said current source through the front contacts of the second and fourth relays and the back contacts of the first and third relays.

- CHARLES B. EMERY.

ARTHUR W. SCHOOF. 

